Universal credit, child turning three question.

[Peppapigforlife]

Before anyone starts, I'm in no way work shy or avoidant, I'm asking so I can prepare accordingly.

My daughter turns three at the end of May and that's when UC say I'll be expected to spend 16 hours per week searching for a job. My first question is, has anyone been in this situation and been expected to spend 16 hours looking for work during the summer holidays when there's no free childcare available to spend the time doing so?
I'm also wondering what will happen if you haven't got childcare to cover the hours of any job you are searching for. For example, in my area the nurseries and childminders all have waiting lists. So let's say for example, I'm using my 15 free hours in September and shes going every afternoon, but then I'm offered a part time job that is 16 hours (as required), well the nursery or childminders arent going to have the space for the extra childcare in the mornings and I can't split that time up between two care settings as I would have to leave work to go and transfer her between the two.
To get the 30 hours funding I'd have to find the job before September and claim a place at nursery in advance but I can't see that being likely as it will be summer holidays and I wouldnt have time to job search with dd at home for six weeks.
Basically the question is, how flexible are the job centre with childcare and will I be sanctioned if I can't take a job due to childcare issues? I'm currently getting 10.5 hours of my childcare allocation, as that's all that was available in my area.

Well we're on UC. I work ft but DP doesn't be work. DC is 3.5 and my DP hasn't been asked about any job searches yet. He is looking but we have the same concerns as you and it would need to be a job with fixed hours. In reality unless the right thing turns up he won't be getting a job until DC starts school in sept

Thank you for your reply! @wrongaddress So he hasn't had any calls with his work coach or anything? Is your DC doing 15 hours of nursery/childminder at the moment?

From what I remember you need to start preparing to be work ready from when your child turns 3, so this means looking at jobs and seeing what requirements they have then potentially finding courses to enable you to be ready to apply. Obviously you may find a flexible wfh job which means it suits any childcare, however to maximise you chances I would suggest choosing your 15 that is likely to be more work friendly, 3 hours per day is unlikely to be suitable. You are only expected to job search in term time (at least this was the case 3 years ago) and they will accept 26 hours term time only as fulfilling the work requirement, but it's in your interest to work more and pay for the childcare as they help with those costs, perhaps pick a nursery who is more flexible?

My son turned 3 last year, I’ve been looking for work (certainly haven’t spent 16 hours a week looking??? I thought you just needed to get a job that was 16 hours a week?) they’re pretty understanding, DS only goes to nursery 8:45-11:45 daily and I have other children as well, realistically, there aren’t many jobs that fit in to that!!! They will probably try to put you on one of those from home customer service courses “with a guaranteed interview” at the end of it, I do look for work, and I just do these stupid things they tell me to do etc realistically, I won’t be going to work until at least September when he’s at school full time, and even then it will be difficult to find suitable work!

@Wrongaddress you work so it fulfills the work requirement, @Peppapigforlife is a single parent. Yes it's tough

@gogohm the issue is all the nurseries and childminders are full to the rafters and in order to get more hours I'd have to put her on a waiting list.

No, nothing. I don't know if it's partially because of COVID that they've got behind with checking on people. DS does 15 hours, mornings only, but he's been ill so much since he started in September it would've been a nightmare if DP had just started a new job. At least this way it's not been an issue having someone to be at home when needed

@Amandasummers do they ask you to show them every week what you're doing in terms of searches? I remember about ten years ago being on job seekers for a couple of months and we had to fill in a diary and go for a meeting every two weeks. Is it the same for UC?

Oh really? @gogohm They told us that he would be required to work too when DC turned 3. I'm hoping you're right though as although the will get a job he could do without being hassled in the meantime

"If you are claiming Universal Credit as a couple, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will ask you to choose one of you as the ‘main carer’ for your children. The children will only affect the claimant commitment of the main carer."

So your DP is treated the same as a single parent. @

@wrongaddress sorry that got cut short. It says online that the main carer of a couple claiming will be expected to look for work when the child turns three. It's good to hear he hasn't been chased up though.

Thanks for the replies everyone. It's reassuring to hear I most likely wouldnt be expected to look for work during the holidays and that they are quite understanding about childcare. If anyone could tell me if I have to go for meeting every couple of weeks, that would be great. I'm not too keen on doing pointless courses, as would rather use my time productively like sell things on ebay or study something useful, but hopefully I'll find something that works before that time comes.

They’ve never asked me! I think I had a vague recollection that that was what was supposed to happen, so one time I made a note in my journal to say what I’d be doing but that’s it!

I have 3 year old and yes I think you’re supposed to spend 16 hours (but not in school holidays when you don’t have childcare).

Although I’m confused about what I’m actually supposed to be doing, whether I can just do work prep activities or actually have to look for work?

I’m not work-shy either but tbh my life is a mess at the moment. My relationship only broke down 6 months ago under truly tragic circumstances. I’m struggling just to come to terms with everything and keep on top of everyday things let alone look for work and feel like I need a bit more time to get things sorted. I need to do the freedom project for example, need counselling, one of my children needs SEN diagnosis which I really need to chase up.

My little one luckily gets his full 15 hours but I have zero outside support (and ex doesn’t see the kids often due to his situation). I spend at least an hour a week getting him to preschool so that brings it down to 14 hours and I could really do with some of that 15 hours for cleaning etc. The house is a mess. I have no evening time as my youngest doesn’t sleep till late and I usually just go to bed with him. It’s always been that way, I think he has ADHD so getting anything done when he’s at home can be tricky.

So I’m supposed to find two extra hours than I actually have to make it up to 16 🤷🏻‍♀️

I have looked and found some fab jobs to apply for which in an ideal world I’d love to do but when I sat down and really thought about it I realised the extra take-home work wouldn’t work for me just yet as I have no free time - so I didn’t apply 😒.

I really wish I wasn’t in this situation and could just work full-time with no other responsibilities. For this reason alone, I massively regret having my youngest, although he is lovely but what’s done is done and there’s not much I can change about that now.

It’s also frustrating that they’re telling me to spend 16 hours actually looking for work yet other posters say they haven’t even been asked. This doesn’t seem very fair. Maybe that’s the difference between the old system and the new Universal Credit.

I think my work coach is new to the job and tbh doesn’t seem to know what she’s doing. She only told me I was supposed to log work related activity a few weeks ago. I’ve don’e quite a few searches etc but none of them are logged because I didn’t know I was supposed to log it. I suppose I can log it now but it’ll look like I’m just making it up.

My DD turned 3 in November and this month I've been having on average two phone calls a week from UC (before this I had one every 3-6 months). I had a phone appointment yesterday, I've got another one scheduled today, plus I'm expecting another call either today or tomorrow. Oh and I have a Zoom Meeting with them on Monday too... I'm completely sick of them at this point.

I would actually really like to start working again, and I've been looking for jobs, but I definitely don't have 16 hours to do that, especially considering all the time I'm spending on UC phone appointments

I haven't logged any of my job searches yet either, so I'm worried about getting sanctioned.

My sister had her child in nursery 5 mornings and was asked why she hadn’t chosen 2 full days, because that was much more likely to fit with getting a part time job.

There really aren't that many part time jobs out there that would only want someone to come in two days a week between 9.30 and 2.30.

@LaMagdalena that's not normal is it? Have you asked them why they expect so many phone calls from you?

@Peppapigforlife

There really aren't that many part time jobs out there that would only want someone to come in two days a week between 9.30 and 2.30.

@LaMagdalena that's not normal is it? Have you asked them why they expect so many phone calls from you?

No, but there are more that would take a part time worker doing full days for 2 days a week.

@Peppapigforlife

There really aren't that many part time jobs out there that would only want someone to come in two days a week between 9.30 and 2.30.

@LaMagdalena that's not normal is it? Have you asked them why they expect so many phone calls from you?

There are part-time jobs for school hours only, but unless you have professional skills, they're likely to be low paid. But honestly, 9 to 3 funded childcare isn't going to open lots more options either.

Once your child is 3, you'd be expecting to receive upto as many calls as used to be typical under jsa. They are supporting you to find work...

@Peppapigforlife

There really aren't that many part time jobs out there that would only want someone to come in two days a week between 9.30 and 2.30.

@LaMagdalena that's not normal is it? Have you asked them why they expect so many phone calls from you?

I agreed to take part in the Restart scheme, mainly because I don't know how much you're allowed to turn down , I've had so many phone calls setting that up I regret it now! Plus my advisor changed, so that meant more calls. My new advisor seemed keen to get me onto various courses too (are these supposed to be on top of the 16 hours looking for work?).

@ChoiceMummy I was on jsa for a few months once after A levels and it was a meeting every fortnight. You had to fill in a form showing the jobs you had applied for and show it to the staff. The lady very enthusiastically suggested once that I Google the name of the job I wanted and that was the only help she gave. 😂
9-3 childcare funded hours would give me a lot more options because I used to have my own business and I could work on that again in those hours. However I can't get those hours without already being in work. Catch 22.

@LaMagdalena oh okay, you didn't mention you had signed up to a course, so if you've signed up to a course, then for sure they will be calling you a lot!

I don't think the Restart thing in itself is a course, they basically said it was another advisor who would help you look for work, I didn't think it would be this much of a commitment!

I'm in a similar situation, youngest has turned 5 so I'm expected to work 25 hours a week. I've been self-employed since he was 2 and was barely meeting the minimum income floor for 16 hours, now it's 25 hours it's over £900 per month I have to earn. My business has just turned 1 year old so the start up period has elapsed. I'm bringing in around 400 to 500 per month.

I need to find paid employment. It's just about doable during during term time but I'm at a loss as to what I'm supposed to do during school holidays. 8 hours childcare for 2 dc is over £100 a day where I am. Even with the tax free childcare I still won't earn enough a day to cover it. I have no friends or family to help and their dad is not interested.

I'm searching for work in a school but so is every other single parent! I have no idea what the answer is but I guess we'll muddle through somehow.

@Littlewhiteballs I would write to your local MP. If you're already working hard and have a successful business that needs time to grow, they can't expect you to give all that up and find minimum wage work, just to meet their own targets.